The Beavers, a year removed from a CBI title, wilted against
the hungry Terriers. BU shot 56.7 percent from the field in its first
postseason victory since 1959. Craig Robinson was later quoted saying, "Our
effort wasn't where it should be."

On Monday, Angus Brandt shook his head as he revisited the
memory. The center, a freshman on that 14-18 OSU team, noted that the Beavers
"had checked out." This year, he believes, is far different.

OSU enters its fourth CBI in six years a group united. A
host of setbacks have strengthened players, not divided them. They opted to
accept an invite many big-conference programs spurned because they wanted to
continue playing with each other. They weren't quite ready to bid their three senior
leaders farewell.

"This group isn't like that" 2010 team, Brandt said.

He drew parallels between this year's crop and the one that
reached the 2012 CBI semifinal. After all, four of that game's five starters
remain with OSU. For the most part, the Beavers own a basic value the 2010 crew
didn't necessarily possess: try to win, no matter the stakes.

OSU has grappled with a host of shortcomings this season. It
struggles with turnovers, free throws, defense and preventing game-changing
runs.

Inattention, not effort, has largely been the root of such
vexing issues. They force post-entry passes. They drive into crowded keys.

Yet long nights studying could zap OSU's intensity Wednesday.
Players, who are in the middle of finals, are cramming papers and exams into a
hectic practice schedule.

"Guys are going to be tired because they're going to be up for exams," Robinson
said, shortly after mentioning that the second round arrives during spring
break. "So if we can get this first one out of the way, I think it'd be
exciting to be playing when you don't have any school to go to."

The Beavers figure they don't need any added incentive to
perform well Wednesday. Even if few fans fill Gill Coliseum, the ever-present
desire to win should propel them.

Robinson views the CBI, which only became OSU's fate after
the NCAA tournament and NIT became unobtainable, as a motivating factor in its
own right. The "pay-for-play tournament" serves as a reminder of the nagging
issues that forced them into this position.

"As long as you're going to step on the court," forward Eric
Moreland said, "you've just got to go hard."

In 2008, Robinson coached Brown in the first-ever CBI. He
called the postseason foray a "big deal" for a Bears program that typically
ended its campaign in the Ivy League tournament.

BU surely felt the same, and Radford should be no different.
The Highlanders, who boast two all-time NCAA tournament appearances, play for
the unheralded Big South Conference in an arena that seats 3,200.

So the Beavers refuse to overlook a diminutive team that has
won 21 games this season. They're keenly aware that lackluster showings can
trigger letdowns, even against the Coppin States.

"They're trying to get their guys ready for next year,"
Robinson said of Radford. "You can't take any of this stuff for granted."

Brandt understands as well as anyone. A little-used rookie
at the time, he started against the Terriers in 2010. He mustered just four
points and three rebounds over 19 minutes as BU cruised to a rout before a
Corvallis crowd of 2,913.

"If this is the tournament we're playing in, we're going to
try and win it," Brandt said. "The 2012 team was more like we are here."